The Raven Dark Hero 37

Chapter 37 : The Misunderstanding and Suspicion

TL:SummerPeanut

Grazie for the support Wiko! ;'D

Author’s note:

※I've added the story where Azusa believed the bad rumour about Kouki.

Kouki and Azusa were sitting on a bench next to the entrance of the convenience store, drinking coffee.

"...So, what's the story?”

"...Well, actually, it's about Hiro..."

’I knew it’... Kouki let out a sigh thinking so.

"Yesterday Hiro came to school after being missing for a while. But he seemed to be having some issues. He used to be much more cheerful, confident, and kind to everyone... but now it’s as if he had lost that composure."

Kouki had an idea why.

(Well, he was a person with a strong pride. He probably lost his confidence after I almost killed him. ...Good for him.)

"He looks very sad and refused to talk to anyone. Granted it might be my and Haruka’s fault for persistently questioning his problems but he suddenly yelled at us... He had never done that to us so maybe... I thought maybe you would know something."

Oh right, I went to school yesterday but she didn’t find faults with me...or so I thought...

"Why would I?"

"What? Because you two are best friends, right?"

At those words, Kouki couldn't hold back the laughter that welled up from the bottom of his stomach.

"Hahahaha! Me? With that bastard? Don't joke around."

"What? Why are you saying this!? When you were isolated from others, Hiro never abandoned you and took care of you!"

Azusa’s haughty words almost made him flipped his switch again but it’ll be troublesome if she cries again so he held it in.

"Isolated you say... Then why do you think I was isolated?"

"Huh? ...Why? ......"

Azusa was stunned. She thought it was for sure because Kouki was unable to manifest his gift and conscious of that so he...

"Please don’t misunderstand, alright? To begin with, there are not many that can actually manifest their own gift. Being a non-gifted is not the reason for my isolation. Based on that too, why did I get isolated then?"

(...the actual reason is that I was being a dick on my own...but let's let that slide here...)

“...what do you mean why…. Isn’t it because you hated me, Hiro, and others who manifested their gift and harassed us? Hiro was still covering for you even after that…”

"When? When did I do the so-called harassment to others? Did you ever see it with your two eyes?"

"But......"

“There are no buts. You've never seen it, have you? You've only heard rumours about me doing such, haven't you?"

Azusa fell silent from Kouki's strong tone of voice.

But thinking she had to say something, she opened her mouth.

"Then...are you saying that never harassed anyone?"

"As if. In the end, for you, I’m just a lowly guy where a bunch of rumours are more than enough for you to believe how I am as a person."

"So... how did the rumours get started?"

"Isn’t it obviously from the guy who told you, duh?"

Azusa still remembers it clearly even now. Hiro manifested his gift. Although Kouki was laughing positively, he still had a slightly dark expression later. That’s why on that day, so that Kouki could remain as himself, she decided to confess her feelings to him as well as to cheer him up.

But as soon as she told Hiro what she was going to do, Hiro suddenly started talking about bad rumours of Kouki.

"...Hiro? Are you saying that he spread the false rumours?"

Kouki felt a renewed sense of indignation at the mention of Hiro's name as he drank his coffee in silence. Azusa could probably tell that the silence meant affirmation.

"...eh? But didn’t you feel jealous of others...of me manifesting my gift and that’s why you harassed others from their back…”

"It’s not like I’m looking for your self-justification now. And as I said before, in the end, I’m nothing more than a lowly person who would easily get branded as such from those rumours."

Azusa wanted to deny that that was not the case. Although the past Kouki was not the most cheerful person, he gave off cool and reliable impressions. The people around him probably felt the same way to him. He was well-liked by everyone, to the point where some people might have been jealous of him.

Once, Azusa tried to talk to Kouki about the truth of the matter. However, she was ignored by him. Even though he had obviously heard her, Kouki stared at her with his cold eyes before taking his leave.

In fact, he was just too shocked to notice Azusa right after the last screening for gift manifestation. When it was certain that he was a non-gifted. Azusa thought that he had strongly denied her existence.

Perhaps that’s why? When the bad rumours started to circulate, along with the feeling of not being able to believe what Hiro was saying, she felt that maybe Kouki was actually looking down on them, as Hiro said.

"........."

She wanted to say something back. But what words could she use? Looking at that silent Azusa, Kouki stood up as if to tell her that there was nothing more left to say.

"...But, well it’s that, I'm reflecting upon my attitudes now. In the past when I helped you guys out from being bullied, there was part of me that wanted to satisfy my self-ego of being a hero. If that upsets you, then maybe I was also wrong."

"N-no, you're not! You've always been there for me, and I treated you like this..."

"...doesn’t change the fact that I’m only that level of an individual where some gossips could sway your opinion of me. .....I'm going back. By the way, it’s nighttime so be careful on your way home."

Kouki who tried to leave the place after saying so was stopped by Azusa, grabbing him in place.

"Wait! Hiro... Hiro definitely thinks of you as a friend, you know? Even today. When I insulted you, he really got angry at me! And the other day too..."

"I don’t care what he really thinks inside! ...No, rather, including how he is inside. He's still an asshole to me. So take this as me begging you, just leave me alone..."

Azusa could only stare at Kouki’s back slowly becoming smaller after he waved her hand away.

Azusa fell into thoughts. Just where did it go wrong? When she was a child, Azusa had always admired Kouki. Indeed, when she heard bad rumours about Kouki from Hiro, she didn't believe them right away. However, when she heard from Hiro that the harassment was escalating, Azusa wavered.

That too was at the same timing as to when Kouki began to avoid people because he didn’t manifest his gift. The two of them were unable to have proper talk and time continued ticking away.

At that time, it was Hiro who was always beside her, so she chose to believe the rumours before she herself knew it.

What if... what if that was all Hiro's doings?

If it was her before, she would not have doubted Hiro. However, seeing both Hiro's recent behaviour and Kouki's attitudes that seemed to have returned to the past, Azusa's thoughts were slowly changing. That's exactly why she approached Kouki now.

Maybe...maybe Hiro had done the same thing to Haruka. The first time Haruka spoke to Azusa was because she heard that Azusa was a childhood friend of Kouki. She wanted her to know more about Kouki. But Hiro was also there.

Then, was what Kouki had said right? ...These feelings were now swirling around in Azusa's mind.

She took out her phone and decided to send a text message to Hiro, someone who was supposed to be her target of affection.

I have something important to tell you tomorrow, can we meet? ...That's the kind of message she sent.

She wants to be sure. Is what Kouki said true? Was Hiro lying to her?

It may be too late just like what Kouki had said. But if it’s true, Azusa had to apologize to Kouki. That's what she was thinking.

...But there was no reply from Hiro, no matter how long she waited...

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